By John Balch
News-Leader staff
Nashville Mayor Larry Dunaway was quick to give credit where credit is due last Thursday morning, July 31, when announcing a major manufacturer had acquired the warehouse portion of the now-vacant Husqvarna plant with plans to invest $120 million and bring more than 100 jobs to Nashville.
Cantex Inc., a Fort Worth, Texas-based manufacturer of American-made electrical conduit, fittings and boxes, has acquired the warehouse and plans to invest millions in new equipment and make “significant upgrades to the facility in order to support the production of electrical products,” according to a news release Dunaway read from during the impromptu meeting inside the Nashville City Hall.
The big announcement was made at 10:01 a.m., just moments after the Arkansas Economic Development Commission issued the press release to make the $120 million investment news official.
“I am so proud of this opportunity that has come out of the situation that none of us saw coming with Husqvarna making that announcement they were leaving,” Dunaway said. “The situation has led to a lot of good things over the last two years. Our Developing Howard County [DHC] group was put together as a result of that announcement, and bringing Cantex into Nashville was very much a joint effort. Everyone came together, and we were able to work towards this goal.”
Husqvarna announced in 2023 it was closing its Nashville facility at the end of 2024. The closure resulted in the loss of an estimated 700-plus jobs, including several associated industries and workers from surrounding areas.
The Developing Howard County economic panel was “literally born out of this bad situation” and its members immediately went to work on reviving the local economy, Dunaway said.
“I think we have definitely hit a home run, but we are still early in the game,” Dunaway added.
Husqvarna first came to Nashville in 1977, moving from Shreveport, La., to the local facility for manufacturing lightweight gasoline-powered chainsaws and weed trimmers.
The former Husqvarna 300,000 square-foot manufacturing plant remains vacant, and Mayor Dunaway is hopeful Cantex
will “grow in to” the other facility or some other business will come along and make an offer.
“I want to say, this is just the beginning of economic development in Nashville and Howard County,” the mayor said. “We are going to continue to work to get the rest of the facility filled up with business and others, as well.”
Dr. Steve Cole, (DHC?? ***(member), agreed with Dunaway about the group effort involved in bringing the new industry to town and reminded those in attendance that Nashville was likely not the only place Cantex considered for before making its decision.
“I’d be willing to bet that Cantex would not be coming if they didn’t see us working together so closely and having our act together – locally, that really resonates with corporations like that,” Cole said.
The 350,000 square-foot warehouse, built in 2017, and plant are both owned by Wisconsin-based Phoenix Investors, which purchased the property the summer of 2024. The investor group also owns Husqvarna’s properties at 139 Old Airport Road north of Nashville, which were constructed in 1998-2000.
DHC Director Vanessa Weeks was unable to attend Thursday’s announcement but was quoted in the AEDC release as saying, “The arrival of Cantex in Nashville is a strong step forward for Howard County. It reflects our mission to grow opportunity and improve quality of life, and it highlights the value of our skilled workforce and business-ready community. We look forward to supporting their success here.”
Dave Meker, president of Cantex Inc., said in the company is ready to get to work in The Natural State.
“We are excited to expand our footprint in Nashville, Ark. This property will enable us to better serve our customers and support our long-term growth strategy. We look forward to integrating this new manufacturing facility into our operations and leveraging its potential to drive innovation and excellence. We’re also thrilled to work alongside the State of Arkansas and the City of Nashville as we invest in the region’s future and create new opportunities together.”
Clint O’Neal, executive director of the AEDC, also weighed in on the big announcement via press release: “Nashville had everything that Cantex needed: available real estate, a supportive business environment, and a strong workforce. This is a big win for the City of Nashville and the State of Arkansas.”
Cantex has been in business for more than 70 years and Nashville’s facility will be the company’s first in Arkansas.
No exact start date has been determine, but AEDC stated the company plans to start its Nashville operation in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2025.
Apply for positions
According to AEDC, he company will be hiring for a range of positions, including manufacturing and distribution operators. To learn more and to apply for positions, visit: cantexinc.com/careers.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
